Bringing together committed youth

On June 5, the Regional Natural Park co-hosted the annual gathering of eco-delegates from the North Dordogne Educational Development Zone (ZAP). 125 students gathered for the occasion to share their initiatives and strengthen their commitment to the environment.

A gathering supported by a network of committed actors

Established in 2020, the election of eco-delegates in middle and high schools requires the appointment of at least one student per class. These volunteers, elected by their classmates, are tasked with contributing to the ecological transition within their schools through concrete actions carried out throughout the school year.

For three years, the Park has co-organized meeting days between these committed young people, in order to support establishments in the animation of this approach and to encourage the emergence of collective initiatives led by young people.

The 2025 edition was held with the support of the municipality of Thiviers, which provided its premises. Alongside the Park, the district's sustainable development education officers and the primary school educational advisor were fully involved in organizing this day.

A day punctuated by varied workshops

The morning was devoted to presenting projects carried out in the various establishments. This time for discussion allowed for the sharing of ideas and the promotion of local initiatives: creating vegetable gardens, building oyas, collecting and sorting batteries in schools, etc.

A photo competition, organized throughout the year, also culminated on this day, with the participants voting and the awarding of prizes to the winners.

The afternoon was structured around fun and creative workshops: sowing honey plants, making tawashis — these Japanese ecological sponges made from recycled textiles — and discovering the role of water and wetlands through an educational watershed model designed by the Park.

The day ended on an artistic note with a performance of the show "Une vie de goutte" (A Life of a Drop), presented by the troupe L'escargot dans les orties (The Snail in the Orties). This puppet show addresses water-related issues with poetry and humor.

This day, rich in discoveries and exchanges, illustrates the growing mobilization of younger generations to build a more sustainable future - with, alongside them, the Regional Natural Park actively supporting these educational initiatives.